The School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), is encouraging alumni to actively collaborate. The invitation was delivered at the Homecoming Campus, a gathering of alumni across generations, at the Bandung campus on Saturday (June 20th), themed “How to Face and Survive Today’s Crisis.”
“Homecoming Campus is not only a moment for nostalgia, but also a space to strengthen bonds and build collaborations that benefit fellow alumni, students, and the future development of SBM ITB,” said SBM ITB Dean, Aurik Gustomo, in his remarks.
SBM ITB’s Homecoming 2026 is part of the lively celebrations of the 67th anniversary of the Bandung Institute of Technology, which carries the theme “Acculturation.” The series of activities provides a space for togetherness that brings alumni back to campus, allows them to reminisce about their journey as part of the ITB family, and strengthens their contributions to the development of the institution and society. According to Aurik, the spirit of Acculturasa serves as a reminder that the relationship between the campus and alumni must be continuously nurtured through mutually reinforcing collaboration.
Eko Agus Prasetio, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at SBM ITB, outlined the various forms of collaboration that have been and will continue to be developed with alumni. Alumni involvement is not limited to student internship programs but also includes guest lectures, mentoring, serving as thesis examiners, and research collaborations.
“The relationship between the campus and alumni doesn’t end when someone graduates. In fact, after becoming an alumni, there are many opportunities for collaboration, from student development to research collaborations,” he said.
During the event, Eko shared several updates on enhancing the SBM ITB alumni ecosystem. The SBM ITB Sustainable Fund, which has raised approximately IDR 11 billion, is being utilized to support various scholarship programs. Additionally, the official launch of the SBM ITB academic mailing list has taken place. The development of the alumni website is underway. Moreover, the ongoing SBM ITB alumni tracer study continues to provide valuable data that supports institutional development.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the West Java Regional Board of the ITB Alumni Association (IA-ITB Jabar), M. Firaldi Akbar Zulkarnain (SBM ITB 2006), emphasized that the journey to success is not always linear.
“No dream is impossible. Even though the road is winding and full of challenges, there is always another path that allows us to continue growing,” he said.
Firaldi also encouraged alumni to maintain their enthusiasm for learning and make an impact on their surroundings.
“The most important thing is how our presence can help others advance, both economically and in their lives. That impact is what I want to continue striving for,” he said.
The alumni gathering included networking sessions where participants were divided into several discussion rooms based on their interests and professional backgrounds. The topics covered included Entrepreneurship and MSMEs, Corporate and Professional Careers, Startups and Innovation, and Business Research. Discussions addressed strategies for surviving in a climate of declining purchasing power, leadership and self-development in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), the challenges posed by the current funding winter, and how to transform knowledge into opportunities.
Through the 2026 SBM ITB Faculty Homecoming Program, SBM ITB hopes to foster a strong relationship between alumni and their alma mater, as well as collaborations that will have a tangible impact on the development of education, the business world, and the wider community. The spirit of Acculturation serves as a reminder that the diversity of alumni’s experiences and journeys is a strength that can be united to create a better future together.
